Where Does Expression Dingbat Come from?

To begin at the shallow end of the pool, the element “ding” in “dingbat” is probably the Dutch word “ding,” meaning “thing.” This “ding” is also the source of our English slang word “dingus,” meaning “gadget, contraption, thingamabob.”

Where did the term dingbat originate?

A word with an incredibly diverse variety of meanings and applications, dingbat first referred to an alcoholic drink in 1838. ... While the word took on its current, most common sense of “a foolish person” as early as 1905, that definition was popularized in the U.S. by the TV show All in the Family in the 1970s.

When was the word dingbat first used?

The first known use of dingbat was in 1904.

Elena Rostova

Elena Rostova

Lead Health, Wellness & Medical Journalist

Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.